Tobacco-stick holder.



A. B. LEWIS. TOBACCO STICK HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED 001229. 1908.

Patented June 22,1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO BIRCH LEWIS, OF CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE, VIRGINIA.

TOBACCO-STICK HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo B. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte Court House, in the county of Charlotte and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Tobacco-Stick Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for holding the sticks on which the tobacco plants are supported after they are cut, and also to provide means whereby the sticks can be readily lowered to the ground without injuring the plants.

The invention also has for its object to provide an apparatus of this kind which is simple in structure, and which can be easily operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjustingthe parts according to the size of the plants.

The invention also embodies certain novel features of construction to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-section showing the parts in another position.

In the drawings, 5 denotes a table which supports the operating mechanism, and which, in the present instance is shown as mounted on legs 6. It is, however, to be understood that the table may be mounted on wheels, if desired. At the ends of the table are depending end boards 7, and extending horizontally beneath the table, throughout the entire length thereof, and journaled in said end boards, is a rock shaft 8. on which are mounted arms 9. One of these arms is located at each end of the table, the rock-shaft projecting from the end boards sufficiently for this purpose, and said projecting ends of the shaft are squared as indicated at 10, so that the arms may swing when the shaft is rocked, the swinging move ment of the arms being in a vertical plane. The pivoted ends of the arms are formed with shoulders 11 which engage the table when they are in upright position, and which prevent them from tilting rearw'ardly. The means for preventing the arms from tilting forwardly will be presently described.

The outer ends of the arms 9 are notched as indicated at 12 to receive the sticks 13 on which the tobacco plants are hung. The notches may be lined with a metal strip as Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1908.

Patented. June 22, 1909.

Serial No. 460,085.

shown to prevent wear. To the arms 9 are pivoted at 14 forwardly extending bars 15 connected at their free ends by a crossbar 16 which extends parallel to the stick 13 in advance of the arms 9 on that side thereof toward which they tilt. As the bars 15 are pivoted to the arms 9, they may be extended at various angles with respect to said arms, whereby the cross-bar 16 is adjusted vertically with respect to the stick 13. The arms 15 are held in adjusted position by means of chains 17 connected to the cross-bar 16 and adjustably connected to the arms 9. The object of this cross-bar 16 and the parts associated therewith will be presently described.

To the arms 9 are pivoted dogs 18 which are engageable with the rear edge of the table 5 for the purpose of locking said arms in upright position. The dogs are connected.

- by a cross-bar 19 in order that they may operate simultaneously. The mechanism for releasing the dogs comprises a pair of cam or wedge-shaped blocks 20 which are slidably mounted between lugs 21 rising from the table 5, and guided by a pin 22 extending between said lugs through a slot 23 in the blocks. Theblocks are so positioned that their smaller ends engage the cross-bar 19 when the dogs are in looking position. To release the dogs, the blocks are slid forwardly, whereupon, by reason of their cam or wedge shape, they liftthe bar 19, and thus disengage the dogs from the edge of the table. The blocks have a slight turning movement on the pin. 22 whereby the lifting of the bar. 19 is assured. The blocks 20 are operated by linksv 24 passing through open.- ings 25 in the table 5, and connected to arms 26 projecting from a rock-shaft 27 mounted beneath the table in transverse boards 28 connecting the legs 6. The rock-shaft 27 is operated by a spring-supported pedal 29 secured thereto. To one of the arms 9 is pivoted a handle 30, and on the table is a handle 31 to facilitate the transportation of the apparatus.

The operation ofthe apparatus herein described is as follows: The tobacco sticks 13 being dropped in the field four rows apart, the apparatus is placed end-wise between two rows, with the arms 9 locked in upright position by the dogs 18. The operator places a stick in the notches 12 of the arms 9, cuts the tobacco by splitting the stalks, and cuts the plant oft below the lower end of the splits made. The plants are then straddled over the sticks as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and when a sufficient number of plants have been thus hung 011 the sticks, the operator places his foot on the pedal 29, grasps the lever 30, and presses down on the pedal, which releases the dogs 18, and upon push in g forwardly on the lever 30, the arms 9 are tilted forwardly as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the sticks of tobacco slip out of the notches 12 to the ground. The cross-bar 16 engages the lower ends of the plants and tilts said ends upwardly when the arms 9 tilt, whereby the plants are laid straight and even on the ground as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The cross bar may be raised or lowered by the chain 7 according to the size of the tobacco.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a supporting frame, of a tilting tobacco -stick holder mounted thereon, and arranged to support the stick when in upright-position, and to drop the same when tilted, and a plant-guide carried by the holder and engageable with the lower ends of the plants to tilt said ends upwardly when the stick is dropped.

2. The combination with a supporting, frame, of a tilting tobacco-stick holder mounted thereon, and arranged to support the stick when in upright posit-ion, and to plant-guide carried by the holder and endropped.

3. The combination with a supporting frame, of a I tilting tobacco-stick holder mounted thereon, and arranged to support the stick when in upright position, and to drop the same when tilted, and a plant-guide comprising a cross-bar carried by the holder below the stick in advance of, and on the side of the holder toward which it tilts.

4. A tobacco-stick holder comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on said frame, and provided with means for supporting the stick. means for holding the arms in a position to support the stick, and a cross-bar carried by the arms in front thereof on the side toward which they tilt.

5. A tobacco-stick holder comprising a supporting frame, a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted thereon and provided with means for supporting the stick, means for holding the arms in a position to support the stick, and a Vertically adjustable cross-bar carried by the arms in front thereof on the side toward which they tilt.

holder in upright position, a cross-bar connecting the do s, a lifter engageable with the crossbar for releasing the dogs, and means for operating the lifter.

7. The combination with a supporting frame of a tilting tobacco-stick holder mounted thereon, and arranged to support the stick when in upright position, and to drop the same when tilted, a pair of dogs carried by the holder and engageable with the supporting frame for maintaining the holder in upright position, a cross-bar connecting the dogs, a wedge mounted on the supporting frame and engageable with the cross-bar for releasing the dogs, and means for operating the wedge.

8. The combination with a supporting frame, of a tilting tobacco-stick holder mounted thereon, and arranged to support the stick when in upright position, and to drop the same when tilted, a pair of dogs carried by the holder and engageable with the supporting frame for maintaining the holder in upright position, a cross-bar condrop the same when tilted, and an adjustable f necting the dogs, a wedge mounted on the supporting frame and engageable with the gageable w1th the lower ends of the plants to tilt sald ends upwardly when the stick is 3 cross-bar for releasing the dogs, a rock-shaft operatively connected to the wedge for actuating the same, and means for operating the rock-shaft.

9. The combination with a supporting frame, of a tilting tobacco-stick holder mounted thereon, and arranged to support the stick when in upright position, and to drop the same when tilted, a pair of dogs carried by the holder and engageable with the supporting frame for maintaining the holder in upright position, a cross-bar connecting the dogs, a slotted wedge-block engageable with the cross-bar for releasing the dogs, lugs on the supporting frame between which the blocks work, a pin between the lugs passing through the slots of the blocks, a rock-shaft operatively connected to the blocks, and means for operating the rockshaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO BIRCH LEIVIS.

. Vitnesses:

IV. E. SCOTT, PATTIE J. Soo'rT. 

